Retaining body having a shouldered recess for a mirror or the like



Patented Mar. 14 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RETAINING BODY HAVINGa SHOULDERED. Y

RECESS FOR A MIRROR on THE LIKE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a new type of holder and/or retaining means,particularly adapted to hold and/or retain a part or object inengagement with a body.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a body witheconomical, efficient, practical and simple retaining means which isadapted to be bent or otherwise formed for securely holding in lockingengagement a member, such as, for example, a mirror or compact against asurface of the body.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a plasticbody with a novel plastic locking flange adapted to maintain a memberagainst a surface of the body. The process for forming and producingsuch locking flange and/or for locking a member to said flange is setforth and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial Number 662,376(which matured into Patent No. 2,431,238), this application being adivision thereof.

Another object of the invention is to enable one to produce hand mirrorsand other objects, with conventional backing or rest in a labor savingmanner and without incurring extensive costs.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new form ofretainer, which will hold a mirror or other object rigidly, against arest or backing.

These and other objects, as it will hereinafter appear, are accomplishedby this invention, examples incorporating the same being described inthe following specification and shown in the accompanying drawing inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a body having a backing or rest and made inaccordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of said body.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional partial view of the body shown inFigs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 portrays the formation of the retainer lip by employing a flatpress.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional partial view of the newly formedretainer lip holding an object such as a mirror in place.

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the body after the press has formed theretainer lip locking a mirror against a rest of the body.

Fig. 7 is a plan View of a finished mirror and body embodying theinvention in a modified form.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a further application of the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the entire body Ill andannular lip II are combined in one piece of plastic, metal, or any otherapplicable material. Outer surface 9 is preferably well rounded for bothdesign and safety.

As seen in Figs. 2 and 3, annular flange II is normally preferablyslantingly and inwardly directed, and preferably tapered to facilitateeasy forming of the annular lip when mirror I5 or any other member to belocked, is placed in cavity or recess I3. Shoulder I2 on body I 0 isprovided to give the necessary clearance I6 when the lip I I is bent orformed over the mirror I5. In this manner, a firm grasp can be made bythe lips lower edge on the mirror surface. The mirror rests on thebottom I8 of recess l3.

When mirror I5 is placed in recess I3, press I! (when operated) bendstapered flange II directly over the edge portion of mirror I5. The lipitself loses its tapered shape due to the action of the press I! andbecomes substantially uniform in cross-section. A clear picture can beseen in Fig. 5. Fig. 6 shows a plan view of the bent lip and mirror inplace.

Although applicable to metal backings or bodies the invention isparticularly applicable for use in connection with thermoplastic bodies.It has heretofore been the custom to heat the conventional plasticretainer flange and then either manually or with a press, force thisflange over the edge of the mirror or other object to be retained. It isnow evident, that by providing a flange substantially as depicted in thedrawing, the flange may be forced over the edge of the mirror (to formthe lip), without heating the material by either a cold die or press. Tofacilitate the operation, a heating unit may be embodied in the closingdie.

In Fig. 7 variation in the design of the lip is shown. For both cost andmanufacturing simplicity any number of smaller lips I9a may be employedinstead of the completely annular lip II as seen in Fig. 6.

In Fig. 8 the rest extending inwardly from body 9a for the mirror I5 orother object is shown as an annular flange 9b.

Although in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I havedescribed my invention in certain particular forms designed for certainspecific uses, I would have it distinctly understood that the formsdisclosed and the methods of use described are merely illustrative andthat the invention is not limited thereto since modifications, andalterations will readily suggest themselves to workers skilled in thisart without REFERENCES CITED 1- The following references are of recordin the 15 file of this patent:

Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Pattison Oct. 22, 1889Spohn Nov. 30, 1897 Peterson Sept. 16, 1930 Schmalz Nov. 20, 1934 GrahamOct. 4, 1938 Fitch et a1. Nov. 7, 1944 Friedman Nov. 18, 1947 FOREIGNPATENTS Country Date Great Britain Sept. 15, 1939

